music

Singer, songwriter Maryanne Ito is a single mother of two, and she was serious about her full time insurance career, when her debut album reached #4 on the U.K. Soul Chart. That was 2014. Five years later, HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports the Hawai‘i-based singer is back from a smash tour of Japan, and ready to release her latest album.

A Google search of music jobs in Hawai‘i unearths 28 “opportunities,” about a third are volunteer, and only one is for actually playing music, part time, for $17.75 an hour in the Hawai‘i County Band. This illustrates the reason so many musicians in the islands work other jobs and create their own opportunities to play what they like.

A year ago, Hawai‘i Opera Theatre was adjusting to the abrupt departure of its executive director, and a debt of about $2 million. It cancelled one production this season, but a new leader is in place, and the season closer has all the makings of a hit.

You’ve been to a stadium concert, you’ve been to a concert hall, but have you ever attended a concert in a neighborhood pet store or a willing stranger’s home? It’s that living room kind of intimacy, plus a big dollop of mystery, that Sofar Sounds is all about. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports, an international hub for intimate performances is getting a foothold in Honolulu.

Does Honolulu really need more chamber music? Emphatically, yes! According to one young musician who has already staged a string of successful concerts this year. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports bassist Christopher Yick wants local families to close the year on a classical note.

Sudanese singer Alsarah is known for her powerful voice and eclectic mix of what she calls “East African retro pop.” She and her Brooklyn-based band The Nubatones are in Honolulu for a week-long residency at Shangri La. HPR’s Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi has more.

Music streaming services have transformed the way consumers get their music, creating a billion dollar industry. But the pay out to musicians and copyright laws governing this growing industry have lagged. As HPR’s Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi reports, that is about to change.

The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s Music Department and Department of Theatre and Dance are collaborating on a classical holiday celebration of live music, dance, and theatre. Joseph Stepec, Assistant Professor of Music at UH Mānoa Joins Craig DeSilva to talk about the upcoming performance.

Parts of the state are still recovering from Hurricane Lane, which is now a tropical storm. Hawai‘i residents spent several days holed up in their homes anticipating the hurricane’s arrival. As HPR’s Ku‘uwehi Hiraishi reports, some residents found a creative way to wait out the storm.

Baritone Quinn Kelsey is in demand in New York, Rome, London, Paris, and more. He’s known for the rich quality of his voice, and a magnetic stage presence, both qualities he discovered and developed growing up in Hawai‘i. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports Kelsey is a prime example of successfully leveraging local opportunities.

Honolulu is in full summer mode. Sunny days, surf is up on the east side, everyone’s wearing their coral friendly sunscreen, and happy hours are thriving, especially with live music. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports on one young singer/songwriter who is making his mark.

Childish Gambino’s viral video, “This is America,” offers a cold view of American culture that has sparked streams of comment online. Gambino says he made the song for people to play on the 4th of July. Spinoffs on Youtube beg the question, if a Hawai‘i version of “This is America” were done, what would it say? HPR’s Noe Tanigawa asked a local hip hop crew, the Super Groupers, what they would include in a version of “This is Hawai‘i.”

Musician Mike Love was born and raised on O’ahu, he’s been playing in bands since Kaiser High School. Riding a wave of internet popularity, he’ll perform in Costa Rica this month, then in 28 cities nationally from Portland, to Key West. HPR ‘s Noe Tanigawa reports Love attracts a local following too, with rock/jazz reggae, dreads to his ankles, and a message of unity.

Gamelan orchestras are traditional percussion ensembles from select parts of Indonesia. Since the 1970’s, Honolulu has been home to a sturdy local enclave of gamelan musicians, centered around a charismatic educator who taught history and culture along with the music. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports family and performers are flying into Honolulu for a special commemoration set for this Saturday, November 18.

Hawai‘i is a famously mixed plate of different cultural cuisines, and on the music scene, there’s a local band that is adding in some African influences. Drawing on vibrant contemporary music from Senegal, Liberia, Nigeria, Guinea and Mali, HPRs Noe Tanigawa says Jamarek is creating a new local hybrid.

Getting behind the headlines can be a humanizing experience. That’s what organizers of the Seventh Art Stand screening and discussion series hope will happen when you view their films about Muslim lives around the world. Named for the seven Muslim countries originally targeted for U.S. immigration and travel restrictions, the Seventh Art Stand experience is being presented in over fifty cities, including Honolulu. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports.

Maui based Ebb and Flow Arts has challenged and delighted audiences across the state since 1999. Their performances are known for high level musicianship and novel experiences; they’ve done nearly ninety world premieres. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports there is a free concert coming up in the Hōkūlani Imaginarium in Kāne‘ohe.

One of the most popular operas in the entire repertory, Tales of Hoffmann, will close Hawai‘i Opera Theatre’s 2016-17 season. Live projections and a roster of fine voices mark this all original production, the last with Artistic Director Henry Akina at the helm. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa spoke to him about his tenure in Hawai‘i opera.

Award winning pianist Hiromi Uehara has been playing since age six. A chance meeting in Tokyo with jazz legend Chick Corea set her on a trajectory that took her to number one on the Billboard Jazz Album chart last year. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports Hiromi will be at the Blue Note Waikiki this week, performing her unique combination of jazz, pop and classical music from that album, Spark.

Setting the record straight matters to some people, like Honolulu newscaster Joe Moore. Moore, a well-known Mozart aficionado, has been tracking the true story of Antonio Salieri, depicted as Mozart’s nemesis in a popular film about Mozart’s life. In the process, Moore uncovered a treasure trove of music, now brought back to life in two special concerts featuring the Spring Wind Octet. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports.

When legendary promoter, Tom Moffatt, passed last month, eyes turned to the team at Bamp Project as the most likely successors in the very important task of booking Hawai‘i’s entertainment offerings. If that’s the case, the guys at Bamp say they have several decades ahead to prove themselves. Meanwhile, HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports there’s quality and diversity so far in the 2017 line up.

Hawai‘i Slam, a monthly spoken word poetry competition, has been happening since 2003. It’s considered the largest poetry slam in the world, attracting 500 plus people at its peak This year, Hawai‘i's team placed second in the National Poetry Slam competition. You'll find enthusiastic crowds regularly at the First Thursday slams at Hawaiian Brian’s, and Noe Tanigawa reports you may be surprised by what you hear.

This time of year, you can feel Honolulu’s major roadways clogging up from late afternoon. As the pau hana traffic mounts today, a few dozen people will head to an oasis of calm at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on Queen Emma street downtown. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports on Jazz Vespers that happen every Thursday at St. Peter’s, starting at 6 in the evening.

A dreamy sounding Los Angeles R&B group is making its Hawai‘i debut at the Blue Note. KING produces music that pays tribute to classic R&B, yet ventures into an electronic direction.

The trio composed of Anita Bias and twin sisters Amber and Paris Strother has been called one of the best underground acts to come out of the LA music scene. They, like many band discoveries these days were found on the internet with their songs being picked up and hyped by artists like Prince, Erykah Badu and DJ/drummer Questlove?

Music stores may be more of a memory than a booming business in many places, including Hawai‘i. Although venues such as Hungry Ear records and Ideas Music and Books in Honolulu are still in operation, in at least one part of Asia, record stories are still a growth industry. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Honolulu has ranked 2nd in the country for being the best city for music fans… that’s according to valuepenguin.com. Nashville took the top spot, and Seattle was number three and Madison, Wisconsin was fourth.

The study is based primarily on data collected from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the US Census Bureau. Factors like the number of musicians, venues, radio stations, record labels, music stores, and even the weather were compared on a per capita basis for every 1000 people in each city.

Many former youth symphony members remember the neighbor island tours they did with the Hawai‘i Youth Symphony, HYS. An annual highlight, this year, the members of HYS’ top orchestra went to Kaua‘i for a series of concerts. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa accompanied them to the Garden Island for this report.

We left O‘ahu in the dark! Blinking and a little bleary, ninety-seven teens and 26 adults boarded that early

The Atherton Studio seats 60 to 75 people and is home to a magnificent Bösendorfer concert grand piano. The intimate performances are like sitting in on a private studio recording session, and the shows themselves are taped for re-broadcast on our live music show Applause in a Small Room hosted by our sound engineer Jason Taglianetti.

All concerts are on Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm unless otherwise noted.